April 23, 2010

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Iran's bid to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva has failed, human rights watchers tell POLITICO. Sources say that today in New York Iran indicated that it will pull out of a vote slated for May 13 that will elect new members to the human rights body.

"Iran's out," a human rights official said Friday.

It has been rumored that western states mounted an aggressive behind the scenes campaign against Iran's membership bid in the body, which has been frequently scorned by American conservatives for having so many notorious human rights abusers among its members.

But the Obama administration has argued that the U.S. being on the UN rights panel, which it joined in September 2009, is able to improve the situation, even if progress is slow and incremental.

The issue of notorious human rights abusers sitting in judgment of others on UN human rights bodies has been a source of consternation for decades. The 2003 election of Libya to the chairmanship of the Human Rights Council's predecessor body, the UN Commission on Human Rights, was a key factor driving the push to abolish the Commission in favor of the new Council in 2005.

The failure of Iran's bid, after aggressive lobbying in New York, African capitals (Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in Zimbabwe this week), and elsewhere, is "a big embarrassment for them," the official continued. It "seems to be a mark of their isolation and broad distaste for their human rights record."

Iran's bid to be a member of the UN rights body was strongly opposed by Iranian and global human rights activists, including by Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi who wrote a letter opposing Tehran's bid.

"It's a step in the right direction for countries to take into account candidates' human rights records in deciding who to support for the Council," said Suzanne Nossel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.

The U.S., UK, and France are currently mounting an aggressive international diplomatic push to try to get a new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iran.

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Iran's drive for nuclear weapons now has Saudi Arabia pursuing nuclear weapons. If the US helps the Saudis by providing missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads Obama will turn out to be the biggest hypocrite and the most dangerous gambler of the nuclear weapons age.

Of course with Israel possessing hundreds of nuclear weapons, it is no wonder other Middle East countries want them, especially the 57 countries that don't recognize Israel. And Israel-Firsters like Arik hate the UN because Israel is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions telling Israel to withdraw from occupied territories. By the way, Arik, the Butcher of Lebanon, is supposed to be in a coma.

Ha ha!
Western powers accusing Iran of so-called 'human rights' violation is such a big fat joke.
Everyone with a half-a-brain should be laughing, if the deceptiveness wasn't so egregious and destructive for the planet!
The greatest violation of so-called 'human rights' would be the European powers invading and mass murdering hundreds of INNOCENT Iraqi children, women, old people, etc. Yet these warmongering mass murderers get to be on the European UN's so-called 'human rights' panel?
So of course European annoying bleating about so-called 'human rights' IS NEVER EVER about human rights. It is about the rights of European relentless efforts at world domination.

Agnim,
This bid isn't about the U.S., it's about Iran. It's an Islamic Republic with strict conservative laws that affect woman especially. Not to mention the rampant accusations of presidential election fraud, detaining members of the opposition and killing them or jailing them, and continuing a nuclear program even after countless sanctions by the U.N. THATS why their not getting a bid to be on a HUMAN RIGHTS panel. It has nothing to do with conspiring "western powers"...nut.

Agnim, I understand your frustration with the US occupation of Iraq. But you are appealing to spite here. Just because you believe the US is guilty of human rights violations in Iraq, it does not mean Iran should hold a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
I was in Iran this past summer during the election protests and witnessed blatant human rights violations (hired hit men who kill protestors in the streets/in their home/raping men and women after arresting them, just to name a couple).
While I am against the interrogation methods promoted in Afghanistan and Iraq by the US, and believe such tactics constitute violation of long-standing humanitarian laws, an important distinction exists; Iran has consistently, openly violated human rights for decades. These are innocent people protesting an oppressive government…not people arrested for suspicion of terrorist activity. The Iranian government has absolutely no regard for their own citizenry and will dispose of them to maintain their power without a second thought or concern for discretion.
At least I can protest without the fear of being killed in the US. In my opinion, this distinction alone merits Iran’s failed bid.

Since we spend hundreds of millions of dollars to undermine the Iranian regime, the electin protests showed we got some bang for our buck. We also fund terrorist groups there, according to Seymour Hersh, including some linked to al Qaeda. Then of course we sabotage the iranian nuclear program and wonder why they don't want our UN (CIA) inspectors everywhere.

referring to: e | April 23, 2010 at 05:15 PM
you wrote and I quote: "It's an Islamic Republic with strict conservative laws that affect woman especially"
In Saudi Arabia, It is still illegal for Saudi women to drive cars and appear in public without wearing the abaya and hijab (long black cloak and head scarf, burqas), or with a male other than their family. Even some homes have separate entrances and living areas. Only 5% of the workforce is female. There are no laws protecting women from harassment, they don't vote, no make-up, go to shopping malls for "women only"
Read some news head letters:
A 60-year old Saudi man who was set to marry a 10-year old girl—he 'won' in a bet with her father
Saudi Girl, 12, Sold in Marriage to 80-Year-Old Relative
Saudi judge refuses to annul 8-year-old's marriage
Child marriage in Saudi Arabia: children are sold, forced into marriage, then abandoned when damaged
As early as 1932, Iranian women held a meeting of the Oriental Feminine Congress in Tehran at which they called for the right of women to vote, compulsory education for both boys and girls, equal salaries for men and women, and an end to polygamy. In 1963 women were given the right to vote and to hold public office. They work, they drive, they have the right to divorce.
Referring to the elections:
nationwide public opinion survey of Iranians three weeks before the vote showed Ahmadinejad leading by a more than 2 to 1 margin -- greater than his actual apparent margin of victory in Friday's election.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061401757.html

Posted By: referring to: e | April 23, 2010 at 05:15 PM
you wrote and I quote: "It's an Islamic Republic wit | April 24, 2010 at 11:59 AM

e-mpty?
You ca bury your severely brainwashed head in the sand and pretend that so-called 'human rights' is not a POLITICAL and farcical notion, or that the US is not its biggest pusher along with the other craven cowards in Europe.
However, the better educated citizens of the world know the truth.
And to these better schooled minds, the opposition to Iran would be laughable, if there weren't Americans foolish enough to provoke more wars over on the basis of political farce.
Arik,
The ones 'seriously pretending to be respecting so-called human rights (euroepan powers) ARE the very ones opposing Iran's inclusion!
For practical purposes, European powers have mass slaughtered more humans in the past decade than the Iranians ever dreamed of killing! Yet the mass murdering warmongers grace THEIR European UN's council.
It's not about so-called 'human rights, little one, it is about POWER and the power of evil to bully and deceive un-thinking minds!
Nas
European powers mass slaughtering hundreds of thousands of INNOCENT Iraqi children, women, old people, SHOULD ALSO mean that they get excluded from ANY council on so-called 'human rights'.
However IT IS NEVER about 'human rights', as the words should mean! It is about might trying to deceive that they make right. NOT!
And as an American, you already have a history of racist & human rights violation, to this day!
Go to Arizona to protest on behalf of Hispanic & the 'minority' AMERICANS, who are having their 'human rights' violated by US government thugs. And stop inviting another 911, by always persecuting other peoples issues, while America's glaring issues against human rights have STILL been UNSOLVED after centuries!

WHAT? Hey MR.0bama What happen I thought You would be there to Demand
that Your !Bud! Get That JOB.
THAT In no way would surprise any buddy In the U.S.A. That is Real Americans Any How! TRY HARDER NEXT TIME.